Clear answers to the questions people ask most about getting to and from London Stansted, parking, drop-off and life inside the terminal. Every price was checked August 2026 against the airport's own website and the named operators. Confirm the specifics before you travel, as tariffs and timetables change.
Getting to and from
What is the cheapest way from Stansted to London? Coaches, from about £7 one way to Liverpool Street with National Express. FlixBus, Terravision and Airport Bus Express are similar, roughly £7 to £16. They are cheaper than the train but slower and more affected by traffic. See the public transport page.
How long does the Stansted Express take to London? About 48 minutes direct to London Liverpool Street, calling at Tottenham Hale for the Victoria line and, on some services, Stansted Mountfitchet and Bishop's Stortford.
How often does the Stansted Express run? Roughly every 15 minutes at daytime peaks and every 30 minutes off-peak, 7 days a week. Advance online singles start from £9.90.
How much is a taxi from Stansted to central London? A fixed fare of roughly £75 to £120, taking about 70 to 95 minutes. Stansted has no metered rank, so pre-booking is usually cheaper than the Street Cars desk. See the taxis page.
Is Uber allowed at Stansted? Yes. Uber picks up at the Mid Stay car park Free Set Down area, not the terminal front, free for up to 60 minutes, with a free shuttle to the terminal. It quotes roughly £73 to central London, subject to demand pricing.
Is there a black-cab rank at Stansted? No. Stansted is unusual among London airports in having no Hackney Carriage rank. The only on-airport operator is Street Cars, via a reservation desk in International Arrivals, and all fares are fixed.
Which is better, the Stansted Express or the coach? The Express is faster, about 48 minutes, from £9.90, while the coach is cheaper, from about £7, and slower. Choose on whether speed or price matters more for your trip.
How do I get from Stansted to Cambridge? Cambridge is about 31 miles away, a 35 to 50 minute drive. A taxi is indicative at roughly £55 to £75, so confirm the fare when booking. See the routes page for more destinations.
Is there a coach to London Victoria or Stratford from Stansted? Yes. National Express runs to Victoria and Stratford with lead fares from about £9.50 one way, alongside its Liverpool Street service. Journey time depends on traffic, roughly 60 to 100 minutes.
Parking and drop-off
How much is the Stansted drop-off charge? The Express Set Down zone is £10 for up to 15 minutes and £28 for 15 to 30 minutes, with a 30-minute maximum, effective from 19 March 2026. See the drop-off page.
How do I avoid the Stansted drop-off charge? Use the Mid Stay car park, which allows free drop-off and pick-up for up to 60 minutes, with a free shuttle bus to the terminal taking about 7 minutes.
How do I pay the drop-off charge? The zone is barrier-free with ANPR cameras. Pay online, by phone on 03450 175046, or via an AutoPay account, by midnight the day after your visit. Miss it and you risk a £100 Parking Charge Notice, £60 if paid within 14 days.
How much is parking at Stansted? Official pre-book prices start from around £6.80 per day, with Long Stay from about £59.99 for an eight-day stay. Turn-up rates at the barrier are much higher, so book online for your dates. See the parking page.
Where is the cheapest Stansted parking? Long Stay and JetParks pre-booked are the cheapest official options; Mid Stay suits shorter trips. JetParks closes over winter, so check availability for your dates.
Is it cheaper to pre-book parking than pay at the barrier? Much cheaper. Short Stay turn-up rates start at £13 for up to 30 minutes and reach £38 for up to 4 hours, so booking online in advance for your exact dates is the better route.
Which Stansted car park is closest to the terminal? Short Stay, a 1 to 10 minute walk. Meet & Greet is 2 to 3 minutes with the car parked for you. Mid Stay, Long Stay and JetParks use free shuttles of roughly 7 to 10 minutes.
At the airport
How early should I arrive at Stansted? About 2 hours before short-haul and domestic flights, and 3 hours before long-haul and international flights.
How long are security queues at Stansted? Usually 3 to 5 minutes off-peak. The airport reported 99% of passengers cleared under 15 minutes in December 2024, though 05:00 to 09:00 peaks can reach 20 to 40 minutes in holiday periods.
Is Fast Track security worth it at Stansted? Fast Track costs from £6.49 per person, with Fast Track Plus from £9.99 per person, and runs roughly 04:00 to 20:00. It is useful insurance for the morning rush. See the facilities page.
Does Stansted still enforce the 100ml liquids rule? Yes. Despite next-generation CT scanners in the security lanes, Stansted has not adopted the larger 2-litre liquids allowance seen at some UK airports, so the standard 100ml container limit still applies as of August 2026.
Are there hotels at Stansted? Yes. The Radisson Blu and Hampton by Hilton are a roughly 5-minute covered walk from the terminal. Other nearby hotels run their own shuttle buses.
Can I sleep in Stansted terminal overnight? It is discouraged. There are no sleep pods, the lounge shuts overnight, and staff move people who lie down. A connected hotel is the realistic overnight option.
Is there a left luggage service at Stansted? Yes. Excess Baggage in International Arrivals is open daily 06:00 to 18:00, from about £7.50 for 3 hours. It closes at 18:00, so it is not an option for late-night arrivals. More on the facilities page.
Does Stansted have a prayer room? Yes. There is one landside opposite Check-in Zone A and one airside near the Escape Lounge, both open 24 hours with washing facilities.
How do I get special assistance at Stansted? Book it free through your airline at least 48 hours before travel, then report to the Assistance Reception in Zone A on the day.
Where do I get a Sunflower lanyard at Stansted? Free from the Assistance Reception in Zone A, with no booking required. It does not grant Fast Track access.
Can I bring an assistance dog through Stansted? Yes. There is a relief area near the APV building after security, and the dog is screened alongside you at the security lane.
Is there a lounge at Stansted and how much? Essence by Escape Lounges is the main option, from £19.99 per person pre-book, or £48.99 walk-in, open roughly 04:00 to 19:30 and usually accessible up to three hours before your flight.
Practical questions
Where is Stansted Airport and how far is it from London? Stansted sits near Stansted Mountfitchet in Uttlesford, Essex, about 31 miles north-east of central London, just off the M11 at junction 8.
How busy is Stansted Airport? It handled roughly 29.8 million passengers in 2024, making it the UK's fourth-busiest airport and the country's largest base for low-cost carriers, dominated by Ryanair.
Is there free wifi at Stansted? Yes, throughout the terminal. The airport does not publish a stated time limit, so confirm on its website if you need it for an extended stay.
Is the transit shuttle to the gates free? Yes. The airside people-mover linking the terminal to the satellite gate buildings is free, though it is due to be replaced by pedestrian walkways around 2027.
Where is lost property at Stansted? The Excess Baggage office in the International Arrivals meet-and-greet area handles lost property, open daily 06:00 to 18:00.
More: Overview, Taxis, Public transport, Parking, Drop-off, Routes, Facilities, Blog.
We recommend a transport partner and may earn a referral fee. It never changes what you pay, and we only list options we would use ourselves.
Last verified August 2026 by the London Stansted Airport Guide editorial team. Prices and timetables change, so confirm the specifics on the official London Stansted Airport website before you travel.